Other Life Events

Occupation

On 14 July 1846 Benjamin Stewart Burman was an Assistant Superintendant in Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaG.2

Anecdote

Benjamin Burman was residing in Leeds, Yorkshire when he was recruited by Lieutenant Foy in 1828 for the British Army. His Regiment was the 34th at Foot under the Command of Major General Sir Archibald Campbell and he is attached to Captain Hooke's Company. His first detachment was to Dublin, followed by Templemore and Galway.His entries in his Payroll and Muster book show that he marched from Dublin to Nenagh (95 miles) in May, Nenagh to Templemore (38miles) in July, Nenagh to Newport to Commonfort (34 miles) in September, Templemore to Roscrea, Roscrea to Galway (95miles) and Galway to Outinaich (18miles) during 1828.In 1829, Benjamin is in Cork. He marches to Inveroon (24miles) where on the 25th July he embarked on the ship "Ann of Amelia" for Halifax, Nova Scotia (Upper Canada)In 1832, he arrived in Fredericton, New Brunswick on the HMS "Winchester."On the 1st March 1834, Benjamin deserted from his Regiment in Fredericton. His records do not show why he did so, but he stated he was persuaded to go by a civilian called Richard McBrian. Two other soldiers absconded with Benjamin; one of them was named Thomas McBrien. Benjamin had married in January 1834 without the permission of his Commanding Officer and had been confined for a time since. Perhaps he just wanted to visit his wife.Benjamin's Court Martial took place on the 8th March 1834 at Fredericton. Evidence was given that he was absent at Tattoo on the 1st March with one other soldier. He was recaptured on 2nd March, at about 50 miles from Fredericton dressed as a civilian. During the pursuit, Benjamin was twice fired upon, the first shot missed him, the pistol misfired the second time. He was chased for a quarter of a mile through a forest area and was finally captured when he fell attempting to cross a frozen river.Evidence in his defence was given by his Company Commander Captain Hooke who attested that the prisoner had been in his Company for nearly 4 years and that he had "always considered him of most excellent Character"Sergeant Major John Sheard of the 34th Regiment gave evidence that he had known the prisoner since he had joined the Regiment "... which is upwards of 7 years and has always considered him one of the very best men in the Regiment...... his name has never appeared in the defaulters book, nor has he ever been confined except on the occasion of his marrying without leave"The Paymaster of the 34th Regiment, Mr. Ledingham (who was also the officiating Deputy Judge Advocate) gave evidence that" The Prisoner had been his servant for nearly four years.... he was an upright, faithful, sober and honest man. He was always respectful and could always be depended upon and no man was more respectable whilst in Mr. Ledingham's service.Lieutenant Colt, who had known Benjamin for 6 months, said that he "considered the prisoner a good and steady soldier, a man of excellent character"Despite such glowing testimony, by deserting his Regiment, Benjamin had breached the Articles of War and he was found guilty."Private Benjamin Burman of Captain Hooke's Company 34th Regiment, to be transported as a felon for Life, and to be marked with the letter ‘D’….in manner purscribed (sic) in the Mutiny Act."On is" August 1833, Benjamin embarked for Halifax "previous to transport to New South Wales."His Life sentence was commuted by His Majesty (George 111) to 14 years before he left Canada.He embarked on the ship 'Mangles' in London in 1835, together with 310 male convicts, including three other soldiers (including Thomas McBrien) from the 34th Regiment who had also deserted.Benjamin is described as 5'5 foot tall, with an oval head and face, a swarthy complexion, dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is listed as married to a wife Margaret, left in South Cape (?Cove) There was no mention of children, but it is mentioned that his mother, Ann Wright and 4 step- brothers were also in America.(((In searching Military Records of Canada and America, the name Burman appears in numbers in every theatre of war that involved those early colonies. Burmans, male and female, served in the American Revolutionary Forces and there were 30 Burmans from 10 states who fought in the American Civil War. .. 27 for the Union and 3 for the Confederacy. There were Burman Marines listed from 1798 til1940 and Burmans commissioned in the Royal Navy in 1804.British Military records show that Burmans served in the Crimea, at Waterloo .. where they were awarded 3 medals, with Kitchner's Flying Scouts in the Boer War, in theSudan, India, Africa, Burma, Gibralta and Egypt.The Burman name is to be found on the rolls of soldiers serving from Australia, from William, who served with the s" Mounted Rifles in the Boer War to those serving in the 1st and 2nd World Wars. The name also appears on the Australian Roll of Honour.)))Shortly after his arrival in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) Benjamin Burman was assigned to George Frankland Esq. as a Gentleman's servant. Frankland was the Surveyor General of Tasmania, responsible for the exploration of the colony and the opening up of land for agriculture and the settlement of a growing population. British landowners, desirous of tapping into the benefits to be made in investing in this pristine country, put increasing pressure on the Government for either grants of land to be made or for the purchase of vast acres. For example, Dr.Robert Townson, an eminent scholer, scientist and settler, was granted 2680 acres at Minto by Gov. Macquarie in 1811.George Frankland attracted criticism because he personally conducted his excursions throughout the Colony rather than assign this work to others. I think it is reasonable to assume that Benjamin accompanied him on some of those travels. We know that Benjamin was a clerk of sorts, having been the "servant" of the Paymaster Ledingham at Fredericton for 4 years, and although it was rare for a convict to be named in official documents of exploration, George Frankland did make a note that "I have the services of a clerk, a Ticket Of Leave man." Perhaps Benjamin had even accompanied Frankland when he acted as guide to Charles Darwin on his visit to Hobart in 1836. George Frankland Esq. died in 1838Benjamin was then employed as a Javelin Man ... a term left over from olden times when lines of javelin carrying soldiers would walk either side of the Gentry or Judiciary to protect them from the crowds ... or to escort prisoners going to trial or the gallows ... a type of security guard. In Australia and Van Diemans Land, a javelin man was recruited from the better behaved or better class of convict. He had more responsibility and authority than a convict constable and was attached to the Sheriff's department.In 1841, Benjamin petitioned for pardon which was granted and he was given a grant of 30acres in Mulgrave Place, Hobart in recognition of his faithful service to the Department. Testimonials from influential people were offered in support of his pardon.In 1845, He married Elizabeth Francis Halloran at Green Ponds. Green Ponds was a staging area for construction gangs of probationary Convicts (those who hoped to soon gain pardon) and it's possible that Benjamin was a supervisor/superintendent at this settlement. It was also the place where American and Canadian prisoners were domiciled .. .for their safety! From 1839 to 1840 there were 145 such convicts .... 96 were American Political (7) prisoners, 46 were Anglo-Canadian deserters from the Army and 5 were political prisoners.In 1849 he is listed as being the licencee of The Golden Fleece Hotel, Elizabeth St, Hobart.Benjamin and Elizabeth sailed from Launceston on the (Swan' on 23rd June 1849, arriving in Melbourne on the 5th July. They settled in Prahran where Albert Henry, Theodore William and Albert Benjamin were born. Robert Hector is born at Wombat or Daylesford, in 1858, followed by Albert Herbert in 1862 and Roland Oliver in 1860.Sadly, in 1867, Alfred Herbert, then 5 years old, and two little friends wandered off from home and perished in the bush surrounds of Daylesford. Almost the whole male population of Daylesford and members of other towns searched for the trio, and it is a measure of the impact on the Community of the loss of the little ones that public subscriptions resulted in the erection of a large stone Monument in their remembrance.3

Parents

BMDB Events

Birth

Elizabeth Forrester Turnbull was born on 14 August 1808 in London, EnglandG.1

Baptised

Elizabeth Forrester Turnbull was Baptised on 22 January 1809 in London, EnglandG.2

Marriage

Dr. Lawrence Hynes Halloran and Elizabeth Forrester Turnbull were married on 23 August 1824 at St Phillips Church of England in Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaG. In 1824, Elizabeth and Robert are approached by Laurence Halloran who is looking for someone to take proper care of his numerous children. In his 'Memoriam' to the Governor seeking permission to marry, Laurence (to paraphrase) states he doesn't want to advertise for a career for the children as he would not find anyone who was likely to satisfy his standards for his family. He therefore has "elected a young person." He describes Elizabeth Forrester Turnbull as a girl well versed in the running of an economical home having been instructed by her Mother, a respectable and prudent woman. He stated that he knew the Turnbull family in England.Robert and Elizabeth gave their consent to the marriage in a certified letter to the Governor dated 26th of June 1824. We .. "do sincerely give our full and free consent for the marriage of our daughter Elizabeth Forester, with Dr. Lawrence (sic) Halloran of Sydney, in compliance with his solicitations to us, and of him, and our said daughter's desire and voluntary acceptance of him." The letter is signed by both parents, the address being given as Burwood.1,3

Marriage

John W. Bridges and Elizabeth Forrester Turnbull were married on 6 September 1834 at St Stephens Church in Bathurst, New South Wales, AustraliaG.4

Death

Elizabeth Forrester Turnbull died on 17 January 1854 at age 45 in Prahran, Victoria, AustraliaG.1